OKLAHOMA CITY: A tough day for the Houston Rockets ended with a tough NBA loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday.

In a show of support for coach Kevin McHale, Rockets team members had flown to Minnesota for the funeral of his daughter, Alexandra "Sasha" McHale, who died on Saturday after a lengthy battle with the auto-immune disease lupus.

From there they went to Oklahoma City, where the Thunder's Kevin Durant scored 37 points in a 120-98 triumph over emotionally depleted Houston.

It was a particularly rough night for James Harden, who scored 17 points on just 3-of-16 shooting in his first return to Oklahoma City since he was traded to Houston in October.

Serge Ibaka added 23 points for the Thunder, who have won six of their last seven games.

Harden said it was the first time he had seen his former coaches and team-mates since the trade.

"It was just good to see them, kind of laugh and joke around," he said. "You don't really realize it until you're actually in the position. Just to be warming up on the other side felt kind of weird."

Those feelings didn't improve much as the game went on, but Harden noted before the contest that in terms of the Rockets' season, the contest was no more important than any other.

"This game doesn't count for any more wins or losses," Harden said. "It's the business. You have to move on."